Except sometimes spending time at the playground doesn’t go so smoothly. Too many kids clamor up the jungle gym, older kids collide with toddlers, and parents are oblivious to their kids’ antics.

Wouldn’t it be awesome to have playground rules everyone can follow?

If you and your kids are alone or nearly alone in an empty playground, many of these playground rules won’t always apply. An empty playground is a wonderful way for kids to explore where they don’t always have to play “the right way.”

But with other kids around, we need to teach ours the proper ways to interact with others and how to use the playground.

9 playground rules to remember

And so, below are nine playground rules you and your kids should remember. We’ll start with the kids, since they’re the ones doing most of the playing. Check out a few rules to teach your child the next time you head to the playground.

1. Don’t walk up the slide

Yes, it’s fun to see just how high you can walk up the slide, and this might be fine when no one else is around.

But if another child is ready to swoop down the slide, your face is a perfect target for her feet. Instead, save slide-climbing when no one’s there, and line up behind the other kids ready to slide down.

2. Watch out for smaller kids

I’ve seen twelve-year-olds climbing into baby swings and catapulting off the toddler area. Other times I’ll see a five-year-old run around and accidentally knock a toddler down.

Older kids, no matter what age, need to be careful about the younger ones around them. They’re more capable than younger kids and need to be mindful of their surroundings.

No rough housing when a play date of one-year-olds are sitting on the grass or jumping off the equipment when a three-year-old is right below you.

3. Be mindful of the swings

You’re pushing your child in the swing when another one darts across and almost collides with him. Or maybe your child likes pushing the empty swing only for another kid to walk by and get smacked in the face.

With others around, kids need to use the swings correctly. And they need to steer clear of swings in motion to avoid colliding with the bottom of someone’s shoes.

And when kids get their hands on sand or chips, their first instinct is to toss handfuls of it in the air, right when everyone’s around them.

So kids, don’t throw sand or chips. Again, at least while others are nearby. Throwing sand is cool, but not when it gets into someone’s eyes—and no one likes chips poured on their head.

5. Don’t point sticks at people’s faces

Did you know the stick was inducted as one of the best toys in the Toy Hall of Fame? The stick is one of the coolest toys around. My kids have used them as pencils, canes, wands, cooking utensils, you name it.

Sticks are awesome, except when other kids are around and you’re pointing it at someone’s face. You’ll likely jab an unsuspecting child or adult with the end of your stick.

6. Apologize for accidents and misdeeds

I’m not one to force kids to say “sorry,” but we should still encourage them to do so, even if they hurt someone accidentally. Teach your child empathy and explain how apologizing is one thing they can do to fix their mistakes.

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So, that was for the kids. But as we know, kids aren’t the only ones who make playground etiquette mistakes. Parents, now it’s your turn to learn playground rules.

7. Watch your kids

I used to judge other moms who would sit at the park bench while their kids played. Why weren’t they interacting with their kids?!

Well, now you’ll find me sitting at one of the benches. I’m giving my kids the free space to explore on their own and learn to make friends. I step in when needed, but I give them (and myself) time and space.

Still, that doesn’t mean my kids are unsupervised. Sure, check your email, but look up once in a while. Do your 50 squats and step exercises, but know where your child is.

Because there will always be that kid who’s up to no good, or is about to fall seven feet off the ground, and the parent is nowhere to be seen.

Parents, watch your kids. Keep an eye out. You don’t have to hover and solve your child’s social conflicts or spot them every time they climb, but at least stay near to coach them through their snuffle.

8. Be kind to other kids

I have no problem telling other kids that no, it’s actually my toddler’s turn to climb the ladder. But I do so kindly and respectfully, just as I would want my toddler to do.

Sometimes you’ll see that parent who calls out another child and disciplines him for who knows what. Yes, we’re all mama bears and protective, but we don’t have to be rude to other kids. You wouldn’t want your child to act that way to others, or for other parents to treat your child that way.

9. Don’t force kids to share

I hear this all the time at the playgrounds: “Share!”

Sharing is awesome, but only when it comes from the child’s initiative. Encourage your kids to share and highlight how doing so has made the other child happy. (“Can you share the steering wheel with the other boy? Look how happy you made him! Thank you for sharing.”)

But sharing isn’t always appropriate or effective. What if your child wasn’t done with the steering wheel yet? Or what if he doesn’t feel like interacting with other kids right now?

Instead, give your child a heads up (“Five more spins on the wheel”). Encourage turn-taking (“…then let him have a turn…”), or even playing together (“…or you guys can find a way to steer the pirate ship together”).

Conclusion

Heading to the playground makes for a fun family activity, especially when both kids and adults follow the rules.

Kids should be aware of their surroundings, including watching out for younger kids and playing safely. Swings and slides should be used correctly if tons of other kids are using them as well. And parents, we need to keep an eye on our kids and be kind to others as well, despite your mama bear instincts.

Parks and playgrounds are some of my favorite go-to spots to take my kids. And with the right etiquette—for both them and myself—we can still play nice and have fun.

Want to read more about kids and social interaction? Check out these posts:

Your turn: What are some of the worst offenses that drive you nuts about the playground? What playground rules do you wish were followed? Let me know in the comments!

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Comments

The bigger kids running rampant over the little kids is my biggest playground pet peeve. My older son was a really late walker (19mos!), and he soooo wanted to play on the playground before he could walk so you can only imagine the Mama Bear rising up in me as my little boy crawled around on the playground while older kids ran around him, nearly stepping on his hands or running right into him!

That drives me nuts, too. I was anal about it in the beginning that I even started a mommy group specifically for kids just 3 months before or after mine. I *really* didn’t want older kids trampling on my kiddo, even if “older” meant 18 months instead of 12 months lol. I’m more relaxed about it by now but I still can’t stand it when the big kids take over. Although I know that in time, it’ll be my kids who’ll be the kids everyone will get annoyed at.

I’d be irritated at someone letting their 18 month old crawl around where kids are playing, most playgrounds are for kids 2 and up, so walking, if you want your younger one to crawl around then hover so they’re safe, because a 3 year old or a 6 year old or even a 9 year old aren’t going to see them in time to avoid.

That’s another good point, Stacy. It’s one thing to remind bigger kids to watch out for the little ones, but little ones also shouldn’t be in the space of the bigger kids. I’m immediately thinking of the big kid jungle gyms or just big crowds of big kids in general.

Great list. I do let my kids climb the slides if we are the only ones at the playground, but otherwise it is both rude to kids trying to go down and dangerous.

I got really upset at the playground a couple weeks ago because a three-year-old walked up to my two-year-old and (who knows why – to see what would happen?) shoved her off the platform. She fell flat on her face in the sand – luckily the platform she happened to be standing on was (luckily) only a couple feet off the ground. I went to talk to his mom about it (I know her; she was standing far away with her back to the playground, talking to friends). And she said, “Oh, C. doesn’t understand about little kids because he only has older sisters and they wrestle all the time and he can’t hurt them.” I get that C. doesn’t understand, but that means you need to watch what C. does around other kids, not to mention teach him not to shove people who are smaller than him!

Oh no MaryAnne, that sucks! That’s a big concern of mine: falls. Thankfully yours didn’t fall too far. It sucks to hear too that another mom would think that’s okay. Most moms would probably apologize profusely so it’s shocking to hear someone brush it off like that!

I love this list! I’d also like to add one more… Please, please, please don’t play in planting beds. It is fun for little ones to do nature exploration, but please don’t allow children to do it in planted areas. At our local park there is a line of flowers… without heads, where children have walked and trampled them. It is great to encourage a love of nature, while reinforcing the importance of respecting all the hard work our gardeners do to keep our parks beautiful for ALL to enjoy.

Aw that must be a sad sight to see: all those broken off flowers 🙁 We have some flowers at our playground but they’re cordoned off pretty well so that it doesn’t get trampled on. I agree that they need to know what’s “private property” when it comes to flowers. They’re there for everyone! Or, at least pick flowers from bushes that have many to spare.

I think most of the “kid” rules could be summed up as ‘pay attention to your surroundings’. Look for kids to be in your way or in the way of whatever you’re holding/throwing. It’s so easy for kids to get engrossed in what they’re doing, but learning how to be attentive to your surroundings is a skill that will be useful for a lifetime. Now if I only knew how to get my kids to follow through…. I also like Alison’s tip to encourage kids to be respectful of plantings. Yet another thing we’re working on. 🙂

You’re right, Leslie! That really is the overall skill we need to teach kids: to be mindful. I think it has helped my son in having his younger brothers to always have to watch out for. And yes, they need to be respectful of their environment, including the plantings!

These are good rules. My daughter knows she can climb up the slide if no one else is there but otherwise she can only go down it. Looking out for younger kids is on the top of my priority list now that she’s not so little anymore…she gets lots of practice with her little brother.

As always, your parenting advice is right on – from my viewpoint anyway. 🙂
#2 – I have totally been that mom who had to scold the 12 year-old who was jumping off the roof of the 2-5 yr old play house. Because it just isn’t cool to jump and crush 3 year-olds. I love that you aren’t yelling “Share!” at your kids for everything. I get so annoyed with that. There are times to share and there are times when a person (child or not) is allowed his/her own time with whatever they are playing with. Taking turns is where it’s at. I have definitely noticed that most people aren’t watching their kids at the playground. Last month when we were at the park, I looked around and took note that out of about 10 sets of parents/caregivers, I was the only one not on my phone and most of these kids were under the age of 5. I am no helicopter parent in any sense, but a toddler/preschooler can run off in the blink of an eye or decide that they should jump down from a 10 foot height.

I love the previous comment about plantings. The poor flowers in our backyard really took a beating this summer. 🙁

Exactly Vanessa—I’m not a helicopter parent at all, but there still comes a point where you have to at least know where your kid is (so you can take responsibility when they jump 7 feet off and land on a toddler while throwing sand at everyone lol)

Awesome that your husband is giving you blog post ideas and awesome that he takes the kids to the park! I wish my husband did that more. But I’d rather be outside more than he would. Anywho, great tips especially the ones to keep your eyes on your children and remind them about little ones. I have to do that all the time with my 4yo even though just last year, he was the little one! I also stop my kid when he’s throwing things or playing with sticks, for sure. Sometimes, I really hate playgrounds and especially indoor play areas. They really are zoos. One bad kid ruins it for everyone. I’d really like to just let my 4yo figure it all out but since there are little kids and their parents around, I’m more inclined to interject to seem well-mannered.

It’s for sure a balance between stepping in because of social pressures and leaving your kid to figure it out. I’m all for letting my kid and the other one figure it out, but I still try to stand near by and sort of sports cast what’s going on. I don’t like to solve it for them, but you’re right, when you do it that way, the other parent might think you’re completely hands off and don’t care lol.

These are all great rules! I hate it when people don’t watch their kids. I agree you don’t have to hover but be aware of what is going on. Once two girls started pulling my daughter back and forth, roughly, by her arms. I had to go tell them to stop because their own mother was reading a book and had no idea what was going on.

Only thing I would change about this rules list is the slide one. Rather than no walking up the slide I tell mine only one at a time unless they are sliding down with a baby/toddler. I hate taking my kids to the park, still do, but in our neighborhood I am the only parent 99% of the time and it’s hard to discipline other kids. Even though most all of the kids listen to me it’s hard to turn off the overprotective momma even when it’s not my kid. I don’t think parents should send their kids to the park unattended too many bad things could happen. Accidents, kidnappers, you never know right? We live in a pretty nice complex but anyone under the age of 13 should be supervised by someone over 18.

Exactly, Marie. My kids are still too young so I have no inclination to send them to the park by themselves. Although I wonder at what age would I feel okay with it. It’s definitely tough having to watch over other kids in addition to yours!

I am very thankful that older kids always seem to be mindful of my littlest ones. My girls are 8, 4, and 2 so you know the younger always follows the older wherever they go. The oldest almost always informs the kids she’s playing with “look out for my sister”.

Yes! watch, interact, know what is going on with your kids. I took my kids to the park once when my eldest was about 4. There were several other kids that age playing, it all looked nice until you heart what they were playing. They were reenacting a murder show where someone found a dead body floating down the river (out of the mouth of a 4 year old). All the mothers were at the top of a large hill near the play structure under a canopy talking, not one of them paying any attention.

I agree with other posters that parents need to keep a close eye on their children. I was at the park the other day with my three year old daughter. I was pushing her on the swing, and making small talk with the gentleman next to me who was pushing his own daughter on the swing.

Another little girl came up to us and starting chatting away, telling us her name, age, etc. Her mother was nowhere to be found. When my daughter was done on the swing, she followed us to the next play area and tried to get me to watch her. She was obviously crying out for attention.

Parents, teach your children not to talk to strangers! Your child could easily be “friended” by a person with evil intentions!!!

Patty that gets me so sad for those kids, too. It’s nice that they’re friendly, but I think how awful if they approached the wrong person. Plus, when I go to the park, I really just want to mind my own kids without having to talk to others lol.

This is a fabulous list. In fact, you ought to make it into a sign that can be posted at any playground. I love your discussion of “sharing.” I wonder how adults would fare if we were told to share all our stuff all the time. Waiting your turn is probably a valuable discipline, as is learning to be mindful of time. But just randomly saying “stop what you are doing now so someone else can do it” is sort of rough when you think of it!

Absolutely Seana, and that’s why I much prefer turn-taking over forced sharing. I think it’s great when kids share, but on their own initiative. And I certainly will always encourage sharing, but not force it.

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